How would you react in the wake of a terminal illness diagnosis? At the age of 43, our guest blogger, Jim Bond, was diagnosed with incurable cancer. However, 22 years later, he continues to defy all odds and lives life to the fullest. Below Jim describes his amazing journey and how he strives to make a difference through participation in the Pan Ohio Hope Ride to benefit the American Cancer Society.
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Kathleen and I had been married for 22 years. I was 43 years old and in good physical shape when our world changed forever. The oncologist told us I that I had an incurable blood cancer, multiple myeloma. When I pressed him, he said I would live, at most, 3 years. That was 22 years ago.
After hearing the bleak diagnosis, I considered retiring and doing our bucket list while we still could. But, I recalled that unexpected good things happened following a high school athletic accident that shattered my leg. We committed to treating cancer like other challenges in life and giving our best shot at surviving cancer and staying active.
Kathleen took charge of research by daily visits to Case Western Reserve’s medical school in Cleveland, OH near our home. There was no internet in 1992. Her care giving, the doctors’ chemotherapy, full body radiation and 3 bone marrow transplants produced remissions and 10 years of active living. We saw our sons graduate from college, marry and bring 3 grandchildren into the family.
When my incurable cancer returned again we were told there was nothing more that could be done. The doctor said, “We cannot keep you alive any longer – you need to go to a hospice.” We were not ready to give up. From a second opinion, we had learned of a clinical trial showing promising results for sick myeloma patients like me. We had to relocate from Cleveland to Boston to enter a clinical trial for the experimental drug.
When we arrived in Boston at the hotel, my temperature was 105, I was unable to eat, my legs were swelling up and my kidneys were starting to shut down. Kathleen did not think I would make it through the night. She called Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s emergency night number and asked for advice. The doctor on call was the head of Dana’s myeloma program, Dr Ken Anderson. After he gave Kathleen instructions to get me through the night, he said, “Mrs. Bond, were you told when Jim was admitted to our clinical trial, he was the seventh patient, and was assigned patient number 007? I think this is good karma.”
It was good karma. Under the leadership of Dr Paul Richardson and Nurse Deborah Doss, I began taking the experimental drug. After 2 weeks, I was again back in remission. I was eating, my fever was gone, and my kidneys were much better. Kathleen could see the difference in how I looked. Our lives returned to normal, and we returned home 7 months later. The FDA approved the experimental drug and other myeloma patients now are taking it. It is called Velcade.
We later learned that the fundamental research which led to Velcade was funded years earlier by the American Cancer Society. The ACS-funded scientist, Dr Irwin Rose, received a Nobel Prize for his research in 2004. The ACS has funded 47 Nobel Prize winning scientists.
When my cancer returned, as it always will, I entered more clinical trials which produced more remissions and another FDA-approved drug for myeloma. We are strong believers in clinical trials for cancer patients. Patients may have to leave their home town for leading cancer treatments, clinical trials or otherwise. Not all patients can afford needed lodging.
We are aware of a possible solution to this obstacle. The American Cancer Society owns and operates 32 Hope Lodges throughout the country. Adult cancer patients and their caregivers stay free at Hope Lodges while being treated at nearby cancer centers. Kathleen is an ACS volunteer leader – at the local, division and national level. To raise awareness and funds for Hope Lodges and other patient services, Kathleen co-founded the ACS Pan Ohio Hope Ride (POHR) in 2007.
Kathleen proudly shows her charmed arms as she poses with Jim.
Neither of us owned bikes, but when I saw her passionate work for 2 years to launch the POHR, I decided to buy a bike, do some training, and see how far I could ride. The POHR is a 4 day, 328 mile bike tour from Cleveland through Columbus to Cincinnati, OH. I completed all 328 miles in 2007 and all six following years. Our 2 sons, Jim and Bob, our daughter in law, Stacey, my sister, Denyse, and her husband, Charlie, and their daughter, Mandy, have ridden in the POHR with me while Kathleen co-leads the POHR.
In 2012, after completing my 6th POHR, I was diagnosed with a 2nd cancer, treatment-related leukemia, and spent 11 weeks in University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland where chemotherapy reduced the leukemia level enough to permit another potential transplant – my only hope for survival. The transplant team was able to locate an unrelated donor whose bone marrow matched mine. But, they were not sure I could survive a 4th transplant, despite my willingness to try.
The team ultimately decided I was an acceptable risk for another transplant. The lead doctor told us my cycling 328 miles two months earlier in the POHR was the deciding factor. On Halloween, I received a German donor’s stem cells which produced new bone marrow and on Christmas, I was pronounced cancer free from both cancers where I remain today.
“Be The Match” enabled a compassionate donor to give me my life back. It means everything to have more time with my wife of 44 years, Kathleen, our sons, Jim and Bob and their families, and the rest of our family and friends. We are very grateful, and we encourage others to register with “Be The Match” to give the gift of life to others. Please visit www.BetheMatch.com for more details.
The American Cancer Society saved my life twice – once by funding a scientist whose fundamental research led to a new drug that saved my life in 2002, and again in 2012 when I was told my riding 328 miles in the ACS Pan Ohio Hope Ride two months earlier was the deciding factor in assessing my ability to survive a 4th bone marrow transplant.
The POHR has grown from 50 riders in 2007 to 450 of us who will ride July 24-27, 2014. I invite others to join Kathleen, our family and me in supporting the ACS POHR. If you would like to make a donation, please go to http://bit.ly/JBOND14 Then, click on “Donate” for details. The web site home page is at www.POHR.org. I can be reached at jim.bond48@gmail.com if you have questions.
Kathleen proudly wears her American Cancer Society Alex and Ani Charity by Design Champion charm bangle with several other Alex and Ani bracelets purchased at Simply Charming Shops in Cleveland Heights, OH.
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